Device for marking and ejecting elongated articles



32 1952 D. DILWORTH 2,598,114.

DEVICE FOR MARKING AND EJECTING ELONGATED ARTICLES Filed July 14, 1948 4Sheets-Sheet 1,

D. l. DILWORTH DEVICE FOR MARKING AND EJECTING ELONGATED ARTICLES FiledJuly 14, 1948 4 Shets -Sheet 2 hzvenlor: 541 0 [Mm/057, 74

y 1952 D. 1. DILWORTH 2,598,114

DEVICE FOR MARKING AND EJECTING ELQNGATED ARTICLES Filed July 14, 19484'Sh99tS-Sh66't 3 F|E-:l.' E 29 29 If I! I 1 I fi/s 4/70/0134.

M y 1952 D. I. DILWORTH 2,598,114

DEVICE FOR MARKING AND E*. TE I GTIIIG ELONGATED ARTICLES Filed July 141948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lib 14/73/0134 Patented May 27, 1952 TENT OFFICEDEVICE FOR MARKING AND EJECTING ELONGATED ARTICLES David I. Dilworth,.Lorain, Ohio, assignor to United States Steel Company, a corporation ofNew Jersey Application July 14, 1948, Serial No. 38, 722 Y Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in devices. for marking elongatedarticles, such as pipesor. the like.

An object of the invention is to provide improved devices for markingthe sides of elongated articles uniformly and in similar locations onsucceeding articles;

A further object of the invention is to provide improved devices formarking the sides of elongatedarticles in which entry of an article-intothe device automatically starts the device, which then automaticallymarks and ejects the article.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved devices formarking the sidesof elongated articles in which entry of an article to apredetermined position in the device automatically starts operation of amarking wheel, which then both marks the article and propels thearticle-out of the device and resets so that it marks'succeedingarticles in similar fashion.

In accomplishing theseand other objects of the invention, I haveprovided improved details of structure, a preferred form of which isshown in the. accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an improved marking device embodyingfeatures of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end elevational View of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4. is a vertical sectional view of the device taken substantiallyon line IV-IV of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a side elevationalview of a preferred form of marking wheelembodied in the device;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view ofthe marking wheel takensubstantially on line VIVI of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is-a wiring diagram of'theprefer ed electrical circuit foroperating the device.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

The marking device of thev present invention comprises a base in whichmay be mounted on any suitable table or sub-base l2 (Figures 2 and 3).The back portion of the base carries a motor stand [3 which preferablyis welded tothe base and is of inverted U-shape in end elevation. Thesides of the stand have a series of mounting apertures I4: (Figure 2).Alimit-sw-itch' bracket [dissupported between the arms of the U bysuitable fastening means which pass through any of apertures (4-, thusmaking possible adjustment of the longitudinal position of said bracket.An arm I6- of a normally open limit switch I! is pivoted to said bracketin a position to beengaged by the forward end. ofanelongated article Sas it enters the device and'thus to close the limit switch momentarily.A drive motorv [-81 is supported on the top- 0f stand l3 and ispositioned by adjustable positioning screws iii.

The forward portion of the base carries uprights 20, 2| and 22, whichfurnishes mountings for a supporting roll 23; a drive shaft z t-and anadjusting shaft 25 for varying the vertical position of the drive shaft.Preferably the three uprights are similarly constructed and. eachincludes a boss -25 welded tobase ID, a pair of spaced parallel posts 21and 28rigidly bolted to said boss; and a cap 29 rigidly bolted to thetops of said posts. 7

Supporting roll 23 is rotatably mounted in a cradle 30 between uprights"2i! and 2!. Said cradle is resiliently supported 1 on base It. by aspring 31, the compression of which may be varied through an: adjustingscrew 32; Stops between the postsofeach upright (Figure 4).

A drive pulley 35 is fixed to the drive shaft-between uprights 2i and 22and is connected to motor I8 by belts 36, preferably: through suitablespeed reducing mechanism embodied in the motor (Figures 1, 2 and'3). Amarking wheel 3! is fixed to the drive shaft between uprights 20 and 2|and carries means for stampingor' otherwise marking the sides ofarticles S. A cam limit switch 38 is connected to the end of the driveshaft. Said switch is supported on a shaft 39 which is outside upright2,9 and is vertically movable with the-shaft (Figure 3).

Figures5 and6=show the details of a preferred form of marking wheel.The-wheel has 3. 560110! 31A ofrelatively large radius anda sector 31Bof smaller radius. Sector 31A is adaptedto re shaft 25 (Figures 3 and4). Each cap comprises an upper section 40 and a lower section 4|rigidly bolted together. Preferably the caps on uprights and 2! arebridged as shown at 42. The caps on uprights 20, 2| and 22 providevertical bearings in which spindles 43 are rotatably mounted. The lowerends of said spindles have integral buttons 44 received in T-slots 45 inthe upper faces of drive shaft bearings 34. Worm gears 46 have centralbores threadedly engaged with spindles 43 between sections and 4| of thecaps. Worms 4'! are fixed to the adjusting shaft and mesh with said wormgears. Preferably the end of shaft 25 carries a hand wheel 48.

It is seen that rotation of the adjusting shaft rotates worm gearsthrough worms 41. On account of the threaded engagement between the wormgears and spindles 43, rotation of the worm gears moves the spindlesvertically in unison and thus raises or lowers the drive shaft and itsbearings. This adjustment varies the spacing between marking wheel 31and supporting roll 23 and thus adapts the device to receive articles Sof differing sizes.

A motor brake 49 is operatively connected with motor [8 (Figure 1). Saidbrake may be of any suitable design that stops the motor as soon as thecircuit is broken.

Figure 7 shows in detail a preferred electric circuit for operating thedevice. Motor i8 is connected to a power source through lines 58 and 5!,which preferably contain a master switch 52. Brake 49 is connectedacross lines 50 and 5| in parallel with motor l8 via conductors 53 and54. A solenoid 55 of a main line contactor is also connected acrosslines 5!] and 5! in parallel with the motor and brake via a conductor 56and either one of two alternative conductors 5! or 58. Line 50 andconductor 53 contain normally open contacts 59 and respectively, whichare operated together by solenoid 55. ductors 51 and 58 contain limitswitch I! and cam limit switch 38 respectively.

It is seen that closing of limit switch H, as when the end of an articleengages arm it, closes the circuit to solenoid 55 via line 50, conductor56, conductor 58, switch 11 and line 5!. Contacts 59 and 60 thereuponclose and release brake 49 and start motor I8. As soon as the motorstarts, cam limit switch 38 closes and thus maintains the circuitthrough solenoid 55 via conductor 51. Limit switch ll opens as soon asarm l6 swings back. The motor rotates cam limit switch 38 via thepulleys and drive shaft and as soon as the drive shaft turns through onerevolution, cam limit switch opens. The motor is thereupon stopped andthe brake is again applied.

In operation, an elongated article S, such as a pipe, is inserted intothe device and moved in until it strikes arm [6 of limit switch I!closing the latter. As just explained, motor 18 thereupon commencesrotating drive shaft 24. The marking wheel 31 in the drive shaft engagesthe side of the article and propels the article out of the device andapplies a mark thereto. The resilient mounting of cradle 30 permits theroll and article to yield when irregularities on the article engage themarking wheel and thus avoids damage to the latter. Engagement of theend of the article with limit switch IT insures that each successivearticle enters the apparatus the same distance. Since cam limit switch38 stops after one revolution the device is automatically reset to marksuccessive articles in similar fashion.

Con-

From the foregoing description it is seen that I have provided animproved and simplified device for marking elongated articles such aspipes or the like. The markings can be applied expeditiously and beuniform and similarly located on successive articles.

While I have shown and described only a single embodiment of theinvention, it is apparent that modifications may arise. Therefore, I donot wish to be limited to the disclosure set forth but only by the scopeof the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for marking and ejecting elongated articles comprising meansfor movably supporting an article, a rotatable marking wheel spacedabove said article supporting means and normally occupying a stationaryposition in which it clears an article moving along said articlesupporting means, means for driving said marking wheel, a limit switchspaced longitudinally from said marking wheel and adapted to be engagedby an end of the article supported on said ar-' ticle supporting meansafter a length of the article equivalent to the longitudinal spacingbetween said marking wheel and said limit switch passes said markingwheel, said limit switch being operatively connected with said drivingmeans for starting rotation of said marking wheel on engagement of thelimit switch by the article, said marking wheel on rotating from itsnormal stationary position engaging the article and simultaneouslymarking and ejecting the article by propelling it away from said limitswitch, in a reverse direction from its previous movement, and anadditional limit switch operated by saiddriving means when said markingwheel rotates back to its normal stationary position for stopping saiddriving means.

2. A device for marking and ejecting elongated articles comprising abase, uprights fixed to said base, a roll carried by said uprights formovably supporting an article, a rotatable marking wheel carried by saiduprights and spaced above said roll and normally occupying a stationaryposition in whichit clears an article supported on said roll, means fordriving said marking wheel, a limit switch spaced longitudinally fromsaid marking wheel and adapted to be engaged by an end of the articlesupported on said roll after a length of the article equivalent to thelongi- {tudinal spacing between said marking wheel and said limit switchpasses said marking wheel, said limit switch being operatively connectedwith said driving means for starting rotation of said marking wheel onengagement of the limit switch by the article, said marking wheel onrotating from its normal stationary position engaging the article andsimultaneously marking and ejecting the article by propelling it in theopposite direction away from said limit switch. and an additional limitswitch operated by said driving means when said marking wheel rotatesback to its normal stationary position for stopping said driving means.

3. A device for marking and ejecting elongated articles comprising abase, uprights fixed to said base, a roll resiliently carried by saiduprights for movably supporting an article, a drive shaft spaced abovesaid roll, bearings carried by said uprights for vertical adjustment androtatably mounting said drive shaft, an adjusting shaft rotatablycarried by said uprights and spaced above said drive shaft, gears andspindles operatively connecting said adjusting shaft and said bearingsfor adjusting the spacing of said drive shaft above said roll, amarkingwheel carried by said drive shaft and normally occupying a stationaryposition in which it clears an article supported on said roll, means forrotatably driving said drive shaft and said marking wheel, a limitswitch supported by said basefand spaced longitudinally from saidmarking wheel and adapted to be engaged by an end of the articlesupported on said roll after a length of the article equivalent to thelongitudinal spacing between said marking wheel and said limit switchpasses said marking wheel, said limit switch being operatively connectedwith said driving means for starting rotation of said drive shaft andsaid marking wheel on engagement of the limit switch by the article,said marking wheel on rotating from its normal stationary positionengaging the article and simultaneously marking and ejecting the articleby propelling it in the opposite direction away from said limit switch,and means automatically stopping said driving means when said markingwheel rotates back to its normal stationary position.

4. A pipe marking and ejecting device comprising a base, uprights fixedto said base, a roll carried by said uprights for movably supporting apipe, a drive shaft spaced above said roll, bearings carried by saiduprights for vertical adjustment and rotatably mounting said driveshaft, an adjusting shaft rotatably carried by said uprights and spacedabove said drive shaft, gears and spindles operatively connecting saidadjusting shaft and said bearings for moving said bearings and saiddrive shaft vertically and thereby varying the spacing between saiddrive shaft and said roll to accommodate different sizes of pipe, amarkingwheel carried by said drive shaft and normally occupying astationary position in which it clears a pipe supported on said roll,means for rotatably driving said drive shaft and said marking wheel, alimit switch supported by said base and spaced longitudinally from saidmarking wheel and forming a stop adapted to be engaged by a pipe movingpast said marking wheel on said roll, said limit switch beingoperatively connected with said drive means for starting rotation ofsaid drive shaft and said marking wheel on engagement of the limitswitch by the pipe, said marking wheel on rotating from its normalstationary position engaging the pipe and simultaneously marking andejecting the pipe by propelling it in the opposite direction away fromsaid limit switch, and means automatically stopping said driving meanswhen said marking wheel rotates back to its normal stationary position.

r Number 5. A pipe marking and ejecting device comprising a base,uprights fixed to said base, a roll resiliently carried by said uprightsfor movably supporting a pipe, a drive shaft spaced above said roll,bearings carried by said uprights for vertical adjustment and rotatablymounting said drive shaft, an adjusting shaft rotatably carried by saiduprights and spaced above said drive shaft, gears and spindlesoperatively connecting said adjusting shaft and said bearings for movingsaid bearings and said drive shaft vertically and thereby varying thespacing between said drive shaft and said roll to accommodate differentsizes of pipe, a marking wheel carried by said drive shaft and normallyoccupying a stationary position in which it clears a pipe sup ported onsaid roll, a stand on said base spaced from said uprights, a motorcarried by said stand and operatively connected with said drive shaft, alimit switch carried by said stand and forming a stop spacedlongitudinally from said marking wheel and adapted to be engaged by apipe moving past said marking wheel on said roll, said limit switchbeing operatively connected with said motor for starting rotation ofsaid drive shaft and said marking wheel on engagement of the limitswitch by the pipe, said marking wheel on rotating from its normalstationary position engaging the pipe and simultaneously marking andejecting the pipe by propelling it in the opposite direction away fromsaid limit switch, and means automatically stopping said motor when saidmarking wheel rotates back to its normal stationary position.

DAVID I. DILWORTH.

REFERENCES CITED Zhe following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Bertram Aug. 6, 1889 Payne Feb. 16, 1937Weymouth Apr. 12, 1938 Ferguson Sept. 5, 1939 Pierce Sept. 17, 1940Lacy-Hulbert Aug. 5, 1947 Kagley Aug. 12, 1947 Wutscher May 18, 1948Robbins May 10, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Jan. 5,1937 Number

